fodmap questions

[Fodmapnewby]

has anyone tried this diet

[Catlover16]

I took screenshot of various fodmaps some months ago. There are so many ok foods on there I was already unknowingly on the diet. It’s a matter of one man's meat being another man’s poison. Keep a food diary of all the things you think upset you and avoid them. You may end up with a very basic choice of foods that you can tolerate but it’s better than being ill. Sorry I can’t be more positive.

[Janouska]

Hi yes I tried it. After an awful year of taking pills for reflux ( which I was never convinced I had and that gave me reflux rather than helped I think) I read up about low FODMAP diet and just thought it worth a try. I had already been following it in part so it has not been too difficult to follow. The main difficulty is visiting friends who want to give me tasty food ! So I usually just have to take own food or get them to just do a separate meal for me. I don’t go out much anyway so it’s fine. Plus it has reduced the awful bloating and cycle of constipation/ diarrhoea. So absolute success whilst at home 9 months. However going away at Xmas I had systems despite avoidance of non FODMAP foods. Not dreadful but it made me realise how much my emotional state impacts my stomach. I have also lost over stone in weight. Surprising given I’m still having alcohol and chocolate! But I haven’t an appetite for much but that coukd just be my depression and current anxiety.

So I think it worth a go - I am gradually reintroducing food. I do think the diet sort of gave my guts a chance to calm down and confirmed my suspicion that can’t eat wheat or milk.

Good luck

[xjrs]

I was low FODMAP for years. In the beginning this helped my symptoms a lot. However, after some time they came back and were present no matter what I ate. This is because being low FODMAP for a long time can reduce feed for the microbiome. Having a rich and diverse microbiome helps to guard against IBS, since your gut is in a better shape to keep bad bugs under control that might be causing symptoms. A rich and diverse microbiome is achieved from a highly varied diet. For IBS sufferers, this is catch 22.

Before trying FODMAP elimination and reintroduction, I would try to reduce symptoms by other means such as a well studied probiotic (Alflorex worked best for me, others get on with Symprove) and failing that some form of medication (or in addition). This is to improve tolerance to foods. If you still have residual symptoms then try FODMAP elimination and reintroduction. This time, though, hopefully, there will be fewer foods that you need to eliminate, enabling a better diet generally, which should help your IBS. Good luck.

[Roary4 in reply to xjrs]

It is interesting you found this to be the case for you. I have found that when I try something new it works for a while and then suddenly becomes less effective. I found this when trying prebiotic and probiotics as well as cutting out foods.

[ruskin10 in reply to Roary4]

Yes, it's same with me some foods are ok for few months then I'm back to square 1 eliminating this and that.

[Luisa22 in reply to ruskin10]

Same thing can happen to me. I find that I'm fine on some foods I 'd cut out, which makes me optimistic. I can be fine on them for weeks, then suddenly my gut flips again and I daren't eat them again for "x" amount of time. In my case, carrots, celery, nuts, seeds etc. I will never understand cheese, I eat some and I'm fine. I eat a fairly small piece for 3 or 4 days running and I am NOT fine

[Boofers]

I agree with xjrs - I've been using the Fodmap guidelines for years - there's a mobile app you can get created by Monash University, for a one-off payment, and it lists most foods and lets you know which group they're in so you can figure out which group might be causing your sensitivities e.g. lactose etc. It has definitely helped me because I know what to avoid and my gut has been a lot better. However, as mentioned by xjrs , my sensitivities have been getting worse lately, and I was wondering if avoiding all those foods has upset my microbiome - which I think they've just confirmed! It is a catch 22 when you have IBS. Also, yes, your state of mind does affect your gut too, annoyingly. I would recommend FODMAP, though, because it helps you figure out and avoid the majority of your triggers, and that's a plus while you're just trying to get your gut under control. I'm going to start taking probiotics again now, in the hope it will help my 'weakened' microbiome. Good luck

[Mosey1702]

Yes, that's how I found out my IBS-D was caused by fructose malabsorption. The FODMAP diet quite hard work. You are supposed to follow it for 4 weeks and then introduce other foods to find out which ones set off your IBS. A short cut is to follow a diet you know won't set your IBS off, and then add in other foods to see what sets off your IBS. Good luck.

[behj]

Yes. It has been life changing in terms of resolving constant constipation and bloating. I also use Fodzyme enzymes (see fodzyme website. Approved by Monash U, the devlopers of FodMap proram(See You Tube). It is quite the challenge at first. It took me literally two years to get an eating plan integrated into my daily life. Well worth the effort. There are many books, websites, Face book site, and You Tubes help. The Fodzyme enzymes (they in are powder form) were integral for success for me. Best of luck! Beh

[Luisa22]

Yes, I have tried it. I did 2 months of strict low FODMAP in 2020, as recommended by my doctor.

As 2020 was well....2020 (as we all remember!) the UK was in lockdown twice and it was good fortune indeed that I got a doctor to see me and run tests, and he was very thorough. Yet under the circumstances it wasn't possible to get a dietician on board. I was given a very good little booklet and left to my own devices with the instruction that if anything got worse, any new red flags etc, to go back to the doctor.

So my first mistake was thinking that absolutely ANY low Fodmap food would be my best friend!

That wasn't the case. I experimented with amounts too, but there were many foods my gut couldn't tolerate.

I bought a good multivitamin and mineral complex and a B complex, D3 etc while I experimented.

I only found the slightest bit of help from it: that yes, there were some low FODMAPS that did suit me, but not that many.

Those foods have now become a mainstay for me, but they are very limited.

I did the re-introduction phase all alone, but had an instinctive awareness about how to do it, so not having a dietician wasn't a problem.

I discovered that many foods I'd cut out on the trial were actually fine for me and probably always had been, so I could re-introduce them quite quickly.

Giving up gluten did nothing for me. Giving up glucose or sugar also did nothing for me. The jury was out re: lactose. I wasn't sure as I got different results each time I tried it. One day I could literally squirt aerosol cream from a can down my throat (at a friend's birthday party) and be perfect the next day. Another day my gut was very upset after eatring a two inch by half inch piece of cheese for four days running. Yet butter appeared to be fine in any quantity. Milk chocolate which has lots of lactose-derived ingredients (one brand only) was always OK for me too in any amount, which shows me there IS a God! haha!

Fructose was weird. I could happily eat honey regularly yet all fruit often upset me.

So I didn't discover any particular sensitivities....except consistently to high fibre foods.

Some foods definitely had "amount" limits, such as nuts, some didn't. Proteins were fine, so that also showed me I didn't have low stomach acid. I guess that also showed me as the proteins I ate had zero fibre, that low fibre food was much more tolerable for me and it didn't seem to matter if those were high or low Fodmaps.

So what I'm saying is the low FODMAP trial might be really helpful for some people, but it didn't do a lot for me. I gained probably about 10-15% benefit from doing it (i.e. discovering foods that always seem fine for me even in flare ups), but it was good to know I'm not gluten sensitive...etc.

It is definitely worth giving it a try, and seeing what you discover for yourself

[bungi1961]

I have tried fodmaps diet sheet for almost 4 years well as best as I can Doc gave me a different one some time last year and that one was different 2 the 1st one that I was given as they appeared 2 be conflicting each other so what I suggest is that you try and contact a Dietician if you can!!! as what may work for one person may not work for another if you know what I mean as in our case one size don't fit all OK sorry I can't be of much help well take care and look after yourself please!!!

bungi1961